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Eisenhower Reaccredited as Chest Pain Center

Eisenhower Medical Center has received full accreditation as a chest pain center from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). Originally accredited in 2006, Eisenhower Medical Center became the first hospital in California to earn Cycle III accreditation with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) in 2009 is now the first in the Valley to achieve Cycle IV accreditation with PCI.

Chest Pain Centers strive to quickly diagnose cardiac patients, begin treatment within minutes and significantly improve the chance of a positive outcome. According to SCPC, Chest Pain Centers reduce mortality rates by 37 percent. SCPC is a non-profit international society focused on improving cardiac care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other heart related issues.

The emphasis of accredited Chest Pain Centers includes focusing on high-risk patients as well as decreasing unnecessary admissions of low risk patients with chest pain. An estimated 50 to 60 percent of emergency department chest pain patients are admitted to coronary care units and most are found to be free of cardiac disease. Chest Pain Centers achieve success with early intervention and rapid initiation of therapy.

As the need for Chest Pain Centers rises, so has the need to create the standards for improving consistency and quality of care provided to patients. The Society’s protocol-driven accreditation process ensures these centers meet or exceed quality of care measures in cardiac care services.

Key areas in which an accredited Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include:

Emergency department integration with the local emergency medical system

Assessing patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms

Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures

Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training

Maintaining organizational structure and commitment

Having a functional facility design that promotes optimal patient care

Offering community outreach programs that educate the public on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women all over the world. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. The goal of the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.